Apparatus for filling and emptying containers for use in firefighting

ABSTRACT

A container which may be filled by immersing the lower portion thereof into a fluid and allowing the fluid to enter the container through a main valve and a number of one-way secondary valves in this lower portion. The main valve is connected to a float which closes the valve when a predetermined level of fluid has entered the container. The secondary valves are closed by the action of the fluid when the container is raised from the reservoir of fluid. The main valve is held closed by a latch mechanism which may be tripped from a remote station allowing the valve to open and discharge the fluid from the container.

United States Patent [19 10/1960 Morin .j. 294/69 R Mason 5] Aug. 13,1974 APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND 3,710,868 l/l973 Chadwick l69/2 AEMPTYING CONTAINERS FOR USE IN FIREFIGHTING Primary Examiner-J-loustonS. Bell, Jr. [76] Inventor: Athol James Malcolm Mason, 6 Attorney Agentor Firm-Holman & Stem lngle Ave., Box 298, Taupo, New A Zeakmd {57]ABSTRACT 2 Filed, Dec 7 1971 A container which may be filled byimmersing the lower portion thereof into a fluid and allowing the [2]]Appl. No.: 205,507 fluid to enter the container through a main valve anda number of one-way secondary valves in this lower portion. The mainvalve is connected t o a float which "f 169/5? closes the valve when apredetermined level of fluid [58] Fieid 111 112 has entered thecontainer. The secondary valves are 141/1 5 i 1 7 closed by the actionof the fluid when the container is 294/69 169/2 2 raised from thereservoir of fluid. The main valve is held closed by a latch mechanismwhich may be f tripped from a remote station allowing the valve to g gopen and discharge the fluid from the container. 2,956,833 I 22 Claims,7 Drawing l igures PATENTEUAUGIBISH V 3,828,857

"sum 2 0r 5 v PATENIE mm 3 I974 SHEET 3 OF 5 KKK- PArami-znwsla w3,828,857

SHEET 9 [IF 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toapparatus for filling and emptying containers, and has been devisedparticularly though not solely for use in firefighting.

At present, in many areas such as in forests or bush, effectivefirefighting is difficult or sometimes impossible, owing to poor roadsor lack of roads, distance, topography and lack of local water supplies.Any fire which may break out in such an area, can only be controlledwhen the fire spreads, and endangers a more accessible area. The onlypracticable way of fighting such a fire before the fire spreads to morevaluable areas, is to employ aircraft and, in particular, a helicopter.Some methods are in use for transporting water or other fireextinguishing materials using a helicopter, but these methods'aregenerally slow and inefficient, and therefore ineffective.

' provide apparatus for filling and emptying a container,

which will obviate or minimize the foregoing disadvantages in a simpleyet effective manner, or which will at least provide the public with auseful choice.

It is also an object of the present invention in a preferred formthereof to provide apparatus for firefighting which will obviate orminimize the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner,or which will at least provide the public'with a useful choice.

Accordingly, the invention consists in apparatus for filling andemptying a container, comprising a valve adapted to be mounted in alower part of such a container, said valve havinga movable valve member,and comprising holding means adapted to hold said movable valve memberin the closed position, opening means adapted to allow an opening forceto be applied to said movable valve member to open said valve, andclosing means adapted to allow a closing force to be applied to saidmovable valve member to close said valve, the construction andarrangement being such that in use, upon the container being at leastpartially immersed in a fluid to a suitable depth with said valve open,fluid will enter the container through said valve, and said valve willbe closed by said closing force on operation of said closing means, andsaid valve will be opened, to permit discharge of the containercontents, by said opening force on operation of said opening means.

In a further aspect, the invention consists in a container having avalve mounted in a lower part thereof, said valve having a movable valvemember, holding means adapted to hold said movable member in the closedposition, opening means adapted to allow an opening force to be appliedto said movable valve member to open said valve, and closing meansadapted to allow a closing force to be applied to said movable valvemember to close said valve, the construction and arrangement being suchthat in use, upon the container being at least partially immersed in afluid to a suitable depth with said valve open, fluid will enter thecontainer through said valve, and said valve will be closed by saidclosing force on operation of said closing means, and said valve will beopened, to permit discharge of the container contents, by said openingforce on operation of said opening means.

In a still further aspect, the invention consists in apparatus to beused for firefighting adapted to be attached to a hoverable aircraft,said apparatus comprising a container as aforesaid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One preferred form of the inventionwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich,

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross sectional views of a container according tothe preferred form of the invention showing a valve in the base of thecontainer in the open position and in the closed position respectively.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the release valve trip mechanism FIGS. 4and 5 are side and front elevational views respectively of an inletvalve according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is an elevation of the control means, and FIG. 7 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 3 illustrating a second tripping mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the preferred form of theinvention, as shown in the drawings, a container 1 has a body 2 in theform of a bucket or hopper. The body is provided with upper crossmembers 3 and lower cross members 4 which extend across the interior ofthe container adjacent the top and bottom ends thereof respectively.Cables or other like support means 5 are affixed to the body 2 by whichthe body may be attached to a lifting means, for example, a hoverableaircraft such as a helicopter.

The bottom of the body 2 includes a valve 6 defined by a valve opening 7having a valve seat in the form of a rubber sealing ring 8 and a movablevalve member 9 in th form of a plate. The valve member 9 is fixed to asupport such as a shaft 10 which extends vertically through the interiorof the container passing a bearing 12 in the cross member 4. The upperend of the shaft 10 is threaded to connect with a member 16 whichextends vertically through a bearing 11 in the cross members 3 andterminates in an adjustable stop block 13. Affixed to the cross members3, adjacent to the bearing 11 therein is a rubber buffer 14 adapted tobear on the stop block 13. The shaft 10 and its extension 16 are thusconstrained to move vertically downwards when the valve 6 is fullyopened and the stop block 13 bearing against the buffer 14 as shown inFIG. 1, and upwards until the valve 6 is fully closed and valve member 9bears against the sealing ring 8 as shown in FIG. 2. The stop block 13is adjustable relative to the shaft 10 and may be raised or lowered toincrease the distance between valve seat 8 and the valve member 9 whenthe valve is fully opened.

A float 15 is affixed to the shaft 10 and is of sufficient buoyancy tosupport the shaft 10 and the valve member 9 when at least partiallyimmersed in fluid which the container may be adapted to carry.

A recess in the form of a V-groove is provided in the member 16 whichhas a horizontal bearing surface 17 and an angled guidesurface thereon.A tripping mechanism is affixed to the container and comprises a V-shaped latch member 18 which is pivotally attached to the upper crossmembers 3 adjacent to the member 16 and pivoted at pivot points 21. Anarm 20 is connected 20 is fixed to. a trip wire 19. The trip wire 19 isconnected to a remote control, for example, in a helicopter being usedto lift a container. The latch member 18 is normally arranged so thatone face of the Vee section is normally horizontal providing a bearingsurface to engage the bearing surface 17 in the shaft member 16. The arm20 is adapted to rest against the stops provided on the cross members 3when the valve 6 is in the open position.

The body 2 of the container l'is provided with overflow holes 28 atvarious levelsas shown inFlG. 1. Any

' number of which holes commencing at the'lowermost,

may be plugged to vary the liquid carrying capacity of the container tosuit the maximum capacity of the lifting means. Adjacent'the lower endof the container 1 rapid filling inlet valves are provided,'each valvecomprising a sealing member 22 fixed to a back plate 23. The back plate23 is mounted with a valve stop member 24. The valve sealing member 22is affixed to the wall of the body 2 in'a manner such that it covers aninlet opening '25, with the whole assembly beingpivotal inwardly againstthe natural resilience of the sealing member 22.

To use the container 1 according to the preferred ,form of theinvention, forexample, for firefighting using a hoverable aircraft-suchas a helicopter, the'container is first secured by means of cables orthe like support means 5' to such helicopter and the control end of thetrip wire 19 is attached to a remote control located in the helicopter.

The valve 6 in the container is then opened by allowing the valve member9 to fall away from the valve seat 8. If the bearing surface of thelatch member is hearing against the lower bearing suface 17 of the shaftexten sion 10, the valve member 9 is held against the valve seat 8, andthus the valve 6 is held closedasshownin FIG. 2, then the trip wire 19by operating the remote control is pulled upwards, causing the latchmember 18 to be rotated by arm 20 thus releasing the shaft member 16 andallowing the valve member 9 to move downwardly from the sealing member 8until the stop member 13 comes to rest against the buffer 14.

The container is then at least partially immersed into a body offluid'it is desired to transport, for example, a lake or reservoir ofwater or other fire extinguishing liquid when the container -is'beingused for firefighting. If .the container is lowered into the body of hefluid, it enters the container through the open valve 6 and through theinlet valve hole 25. When the fluid entering the container reaches thefloat 15, it causes the float to rise causing theshaft and the extension16 and the valve member 9 to be raised with it. As theshaft extensionmember 16 is raised, the latch member 18 is forced to rotate until therecess with the bearing surface 17 is adjacentthe trigger latch member18. When the valve member 9 has been raised by the float until it bearsagainst and preferably compresses the sealing ring valve seat" 8, thelatch member 18 engages the bearing surfaces 17 of the shaft extension16. The valve 6 is thus closed automatically without the necessity ofpulling the trip wire 19.

The container is then lifted from the body of fluid. Any fluid in excessof the desired capacity in the container which may have entered duringthe loading, will be discharged through those overflow holes 28 which 4are unplugged as the container is raised. The inlet holes 25 will ofcourse now be covered by their sealingv valve flaps 22 due to the actionof the fluid 'now contained within the container. Only that quantity offluid which is below the lowermost of the unplugged holes 28 will becarried by the container, and thus the maximum carrying capacity of thecontainer may be varied as desired by suitably plugging any numberof theholes 28. As the container is lifted from the body of fluid, the valve 9is forced downwards by the weight of fluid inside the container, untilit bears against the latch member 18 and the bearing surface 17 as shownin FIG. 2. Preferably, this downward movement is very short, andinsufficient to separate the valve member 9 from the sealing ring 8.

The container is then supported until it is located over the area intowhich it is desired to discharge the container contents, e.g., over afire. The valve 6 is then opened by'pulling thetrip wire 19 and allowingthe valve member 9 to fall away from the valve seat 8 in the mannerdescribed above. When the valve 6 is opened, the fluid in the containerfalls through the open valve and onto the desired target area. Whenempty, the container is then returned to the bodyof the fluid for afurther load as desired.

Referring to FIG. 6 the trip wire 19 is connected to a release mechanism29 which ismounted within the hoverable aircraft. The base 30 is affixedto the aircraft frame in a suitable operable position. A pair of sideplates 31 apertured to carry a pivot shaft 32 on which is mounted asheave 33 carrying an arm 34 which terminates in a foot pad 35. The arm34 is fixably mounted on the sheave 33 such that pressure on the footpad 35 by an operator will rotate the arm 34 and the sheave 33 about thepivot shaft 32. The lips 36 of the sheave 33 are notched at 37 toprovide an anchor for the cable 19 which terminates in a. cross member38 adapted to engage the notches 37. A tension spring 39, is providedwith one end attached to the side plate 31 at a position substantiallyvertical below the pivot axis of the sheave 33 and with itsother endattached to the sheave 33 in a manner such that a rotational force isapplied to the sheave to maintain the cable 19. under sufficientpressure to prevent the cross member 38 from disengaging the notch 37.The force being much less than the force required to release the tripmechanism in the body 2. The cable 19 is encased in a casing 40 whichterminates in a hook member 41 which'is adapted to engage a downwardlyturned portion of the base 30. The hook member 41 is maintained inengagement with the base 30 by the rotational force applied to sheave33. Under normal conditions the release mechanism 29 may be operated bypressure on the foot pad 35 thus rotating the sheave 33 and causingmovement of the cable 19 causing the trip mechanism in the container torelease overcome the rotational force applied to the sheave 33 by thetension spring 39 and the sheave 33 will rotate in the reverse directionuntil the crossmember 38 disengages the notches 37 thus allowing thecable 19 and the casing 40 to fall away with the container 2 when the 7container 2 is released from the aircraft under such conditions.

In an alternative construction, shown in FIG. 7, it is also envisagedthat the container described above could be provided with two trippingmechanisms, one adapted to hold the valve closed, and then be operatedto allow the valve to open, and the second mechanism adapted to hold thevalve open and then be operated to allow the valve to close. This couldbe achieved, for example, by having each tripping mechanism engageablewith one of two V-grooves, similar to the V-groove with bearing surface17 in the preferred form of the invention, one of the grooves having itsbearing surface on its top surface and the other having its bearingsurface on its bottom surface. When one groove is release byoperation ofits associated tripping mechanism, the other would be automaticallyengaged on movement of the'shaft. In FIG. 7, the components of thesecond tripping mechanism bear the same reference numerals with theletter a.

If the invention is being used for firefighting, for example, inconjunction with a helicopter, then a remotely controlled device forinjecting an agent, e.g., a wetting agent or fire retarding agent intothe water being carried in the container may-be mounted, for example, ona platform attached to the upper cross members 3. The agent is pumpedfrom a storage container, which is attached to the platform by asolenoid operated piston pump. The stroke of the solenoid and pistonand, hence, the capacity of the pump, may be varied by means of amoveable stop which intercepts a rocker lever connecting the solenoid tothe pump, to ensure that a substantially predetermined proportion of theagent is injected into the water in the container.

The solenoid is activated electrically by a control switch in thehelicopter, electric cables being provided to link the solenoid to thecontrol switch.

A further modification within the scope of the invention is to provide adeflector in the form of a funnel or a short piece of tube 26 in theform of a band placed around and concentric with the inlet opening 25.The band extends from just above the bottom opening down to below thelevel of the valve member 9 at its fully open position. When the waterfalls from the container immediately after opening, as described above,it is deflected sideways by theupper surface of the open plate. However,when the deflector is fitted the water is deflected downwards onstriking the deflector, and thus is concentrated onto a smaller groundarea. The deflector may be rigidly fixed to the container, or it may beflexibly fixed thereto such that when the container is placed on theground, it rests on the plate 7 rather than the lower edge of thedeflector, while the deflector has merely to support its own weight asit is raised relative to the body of the container on striking theground. Yet a further modification would be to provide a remote controlraising and lowering means for the deflector so that it may be raisedboth whenthe container is resting on the ground, and when in use it isdesired to provide a less concentrated flow of water from the container.

Although describedabove in relation to firefighting, it is alsoenvisaged that the invention would be used, on a much smaller scale, forexample, as a device for measuring or sampling various liquids. In itsmodified form, being adapted to close automatically when a substantiallypre-determined quantity of fluid has entered the container, theinvention is particularly suitable for extracting predetermined andmeasured quantities of fluid from a reservoir of the fluid.

In an alternative construction, the release mechanism 29 which ismounted within the helicopter may be replaced by a solenoid mounted onthe upper cross members 3 of the body 2 to operate the latch tripmechanism. The solenoid is activated electrically by a control switch inthe helicopter, electric cables being provided to link the solenoid tothe control switch and power pply- I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling and emptying a container having a lower part,comprising a valve mounted in said lower part of such a container, saidvalve having a movable valve member, latch means cooperable with themovable valve member to hold said movable valve member in a closedposition, opening means to allow an opening force to be applied to saidmovable valve member to open said valve, and closing means to allow aclosing force to be applied to said movable valve member to close saidvalve, the construction and arrangement being such that in use, upon thecontainer being at least partially immersed in a fluid to a suitabledepth with said valve open, fluid will enterthe container through saidvalve and said valve will be closed by said closing force on operationof said closing means, and said valve will be opened to permit dischargeof the container contents, by said opening force on operation of saidopening means.

2. A container having a valve mounted in a lower part thereof, saidvalve having a movable valve member, latch means cooperable with themovable valve member to hold said movable valve member in a closedposition, opening means to allow an opening force to be applied to saidmovable valve member to open said valve, and closing means to allow aclosing force to be applied to said movable member to close said valve,the construction and arrangement being such that, in use, upon thecontainer being at least partially immersed in a fluid to a suitabledepth with said valve open, fluid will enter the container through saidvalve, and said valve will be closed by said closing force on operationof said closing means, and said valve will be opened, to

permit'discharge of the container contents, by said opening force onoperation of said opening means.

3. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said opening meanscomprises a support attached to said movable valve member and a movablelatch means engageable with said support, the construction andarrangement being such that on said movable latch means disengaging saidsupport, an opening force is allowed to be applied to said movable valvemember to open said valve.

4. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said opening force isgravity.

5. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closing meanscomprises a float attached to said movable valve member, theconstruction and arrangement being such that a closing force is appliedto said movable valve member when fluid enters said container and atleast partially immerses said float and causes said float to be raised.

6. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein a support attached tosaid movable valve member engages a latch means when said valve isclosed by said closing force, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that said latch means holds such movable valve member in the closedposition on said valve being closed by said closing force and on saidlatch means engaging said support.

7. The container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said latch means and saidmovable latch means comprise a tripping mechanism, arranged so that saidmovable valve member in the closed position by said tripping mechanismbeing engaged with a support attached to said movable valve member, andthat on said tripping mechanism being operated, said support isdisengaged therefrom and an opening force is allowed to be applied tosaid movable valve member to open said valve.

' such that said movable valve member is held in the open position bysaid further tripping mechanism being engaged with a support attached tosaid movable valve I member and that on said further tripping mechanismbeing operated said support is disengaged therefrom and a closing forceis allowed to be applied to said movable member to close said valve.

10. The container as claimed in claim 9 wherein said latch means adaptedto hold said movable valve member inthe open position comprises saidtripping mechanism, the construction and arrangement being such thatsaid movable valve'member is held in the open position, by said trippingmechanism being engaged with said support attached to said movable valvemember and that on said tripping mechanism being operated, said supportis disengaged therefrom and a closing force is allowed to be applied tosaid movable valve member to close said valve.

11. The container as claimed in claim 10 wherein said valve is on thelower part of said container, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that said valve is closed by said movable valve member being raisedand said valve is opened by said movable valve member being lowered.

12. The container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said support is a shaftfixed to and extending up from said movable valve member, said shafthaving a recess provided therein which is adapted to be engageable withsaid latch means.

13. The container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said latch meanscomprises one or more latch members pivotally attached to saidcontainer, or to a support attached thereto, one end of each of saidlatch members having a bearing face provided thereon adapted to engageabearing surface on said recess and the other end of each of said latchmembers having a control attached thereto adapted to move said latchmembers, the construction and arrangement being such that said bearingface engages said bearing surface to hold said movable valve member, andon said bearing face being moved, said bearing face disengages saidbearing surface and releases said movable valve member to allow anopening force or a closing force to be applied thereto. I

14. The container as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said bearingfaces is adapted to engage either one or two of said bearing surfaces,the construction and arrangement being such that said bearing faceengages one of said bearing surfacesto hold said valve open and saidbearing face engages the other of said bearing surfaces to hold saidvalve closed.

15. The container as claimed in claim 13 wherein there are two of saidlatch members.

16. The container as claimed in claim 13 wherein said recess has anangled surface leading to said bearing surface, the construction andarrangement being such that on said movable .valve member closing saidvalve, said bearing faces are moved relative to said recess and areguided by said angled surface onto said bearing surface such that saidbearing face engages said bearing surface when said valve is closed andsuch that said valve is held closed by such engagement.

17. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container isadapted to be supported from above,

18..The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container isadapted to be supported by and transported by ahoverableaircraft, suchas a helicopter.

19. The container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tripping mechanismis operated by a control means attached to a hoverable aircraft, such asa helicopter.

20. The container as claimed in claim 5 wherein a plurality of valvesare mounted in said lower part thereof, said valves having a movablevalve member, hinge means to hinge said movable valve member and stopmeans to limit movement of said movable valve member, the constructionand arrangement being such that, in use, on the container being immersedin a fluid to a suitable depth, said valve will be opened by pressurefrom said fluid, said fluid will enter said container, and said valvewill be closed by said fluid when the container is raised from saidfluid.

21. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container isprovided with a deflector todeflect fluid being discharged from saidcontainer into a more concentrated flow, said deflector comprising ashort tube placed around said valve.

22. The container as claimed in claim 19 wherein said control meanscomprises a cable, a pivotally mounted operating member to engage saidcable, tension means to apply a rotational force to said operatingmember to maintain engagement with and apply tension to said cable, theconstruction and arrangement being such that in use, rotation of theoperating member in the direction of said force applied by said tensionmeans, the cable is taken up to operate said, and should a force greaterthan and in a direction opposite to the rotational forceapplied by saidtension means by applied, said operating member will move in thedirection of said greater force and disengage said cable.

1. Apparatus for filling and emptying a container having a lower part,comprising a valve mounted in said lower part of such a container, saidvalve having a movable valve member, latch means cooperable with themovable valve member to hold said movable valve member in a closedposition, opening means to allow an opening force to be applied to saidmovable valve member to open said valve, and closing means to allow aclosing force to be applied to said movable valve member to close saidvalve, the construction and arrangement being such that in use, upon thecontainer being at least partially immersed in a fluid to a suitabledepth with said valve open, fluid will enter the container through saidvalve and said valve will be closed by said closing force on operationof said closing means, and said valve will be opened to permit dischargeof the container contents, by said opening force on operation of saidopening means.
 2. A container having a valve mounted in a lower partthereof, said valve having a movable valve member, latch meanscooperable with the movable valve member to hold said movable valvemember in a closed position, opening means to allow an opening force tobe applied to said movable valve member to open said valve, and closingmeans to allow a closing force to be applied to said movable member toclose said valve, the construction and arrangement being such that, inuse, upon the container being at least partially immersed in a fluiD toa suitable depth with said valve open, fluid will enter the containerthrough said valve, and said valve will be closed by said closing forceon operation of said closing means, and said valve will be opened, topermit discharge of the container contents, by said opening force onoperation of said opening means.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 2wherein said opening means comprises a support attached to said movablevalve member and a movable latch means engageable with said support, theconstruction and arrangement being such that on said movable latch meansdisengaging said support, an opening force is allowed to be applied tosaid movable valve member to open said valve.
 4. The container asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said opening force is gravity.
 5. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closing means comprises afloat attached to said movable valve member, the construction andarrangement being such that a closing force is applied to said movablevalve member when fluid enters said container and at least partiallyimmerses said float and causes said float to be raised.
 6. The containeras claimed in claim 2 wherein a support attached to said movable valvemember engages a latch means when said valve is closed by said closingforce, the construction and arrangement being such that said latch meansholds such movable valve member in the closed position on said valvebeing closed by said closing force and on said latch means engaging saidsupport.
 7. The container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said latch meansand said movable latch means comprise a tripping mechanism, arranged sothat said movable valve member in the closed position by said trippingmechanism being engaged with a support attached to said movable valvemember, and that on said tripping mechanism being operated, said supportis disengaged therefrom and an opening force is allowed to be applied tosaid movable valve member to open said valve.
 8. The container asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said container has latch means adapted tohold said movable valve member in the open position.
 9. The container asclaimed in claim 8 wherein said latch means adapted to hold said movablevalve member in the open position comprises a further trippingmechanism, the construction and arrangement being such that said movablevalve member is held in the open position by said further trippingmechanism being engaged with a support attached to said movable valvemember and that on said further tripping mechanism being operated saidsupport is disengaged therefrom and a closing force is allowed to beapplied to said movable member to close said valve.
 10. The container asclaimed in claim 9 wherein said latch means adapted to hold said movablevalve member in the open position comprises said tripping mechanism, theconstruction and arrangement being such that said movable valve memberis held in the open position, by said tripping mechanism being engagedwith said support attached to said movable valve member and that on saidtripping mechanism being operated, said support is disengaged therefromand a closing force is allowed to be applied to said movable valvemember to close said valve.
 11. The container as claimed in claim 10wherein said valve is on the lower part of said container, theconstruction and arrangement being such that said valve is closed bysaid movable valve member being raised and said valve is opened by saidmovable valve member being lowered.
 12. The container as claimed inclaim 6 wherein said support is a shaft fixed to and extending up fromsaid movable valve member, said shaft having a recess provided thereinwhich is adapted to be engageable with said latch means.
 13. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said latch means comprises oneor more latch members pivotally attached to said container, or to asupport attached thereto, one end of each of said latch members having abearing face provided thereon adapted to engage a bearing surface onsaiD recess and the other end of each of said latch members having acontrol attached thereto adapted to move said latch members, theconstruction and arrangement being such that said bearing face engagessaid bearing surface to hold said movable valve member, and on saidbearing face being moved, said bearing face disengages said bearingsurface and releases said movable valve member to allow an opening forceor a closing force to be applied thereto.
 14. The container as claimedin claim 13 wherein each of said bearing faces is adapted to engageeither one or two of said bearing surfaces, the construction andarrangement being such that said bearing face engages one of saidbearing surfaces to hold said valve open and said bearing face engagesthe other of said bearing surfaces to hold said valve closed.
 15. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 13 wherein there are two of said latchmembers.
 16. The container as claimed in claim 13 wherein said recesshas an angled surface leading to said bearing surface, the constructionand arrangement being such that on said movable valve member closingsaid valve, said bearing faces are moved relative to said recess and areguided by said angled surface onto said bearing surface such that saidbearing face engages said bearing surface when said valve is closed andsuch that said valve is held closed by such engagement.
 17. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container is adapted to besupported from above.
 18. The container as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid container is adapted to be supported by and transported by ahoverable aircraft, such as a helicopter.
 19. The container as claimedin claim 7 wherein said tripping mechanism is operated by a controlmeans attached to a hoverable aircraft, such as a helicopter.
 20. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 5 wherein a plurality of valves aremounted in said lower part thereof, said valves having a movable valvemember, hinge means to hinge said movable valve member and stop means tolimit movement of said movable valve member, the construction andarrangement being such that, in use, on the container being immersed ina fluid to a suitable depth, said valve will be opened by pressure fromsaid fluid, said fluid will enter said container, and said valve will beclosed by said fluid when the container is raised from said fluid. 21.The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container is providedwith a deflector to deflect fluid being discharged from said containerinto a more concentrated flow, said deflector comprising a short tubeplaced around said valve.
 22. The container as claimed in claim 19wherein said control means comprises a cable, a pivotally mountedoperating member to engage said cable, tension means to apply arotational force to said operating member to maintain engagement withand apply tension to said cable, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that in use, rotation of the operating member in the direction ofsaid force applied by said tension means, the cable is taken up tooperate said, and should a force greater than and in a directionopposite to the rotational force applied by said tension means byapplied, said operating member will move in the direction of saidgreater force and disengage said cable.